what are photographs

[avg2013]

A photograph — also called a photo — is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic image sensor, such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's reflected light into a real image on the film or sensor. The process and practice of creating photographs is called photography. The word photograph comes from the Greek φῶς (phos), (genitive phōtos) meaning 'light', and γραφή (graphê) meaning 'drawing, writing', together meaning 'drawing with light'.[1][2]

A photograph may be created by various means including manual photocopying, using a negative, by means of various electronic imaging processes, such as scanning or by taking a digital picture.

Photographs have been used since pre-history to record and document events. The invention of the modern day camera in the early 19th century allowed photographs to be taken of people, places and things without having to draw them. This invention changed the world and how we view it.

Today, photography is an extremely popular hobby, with millions of people of all ages and walks of life taking photographs on a regular basis. Many people also make a living from photography, whether it be through professional portraiture, wedding photography, photojournalism, landscape photography or any of the other hundreds of branches of the industry.